Machines for forming shoe covers



June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSEN 2,89 ,26

MACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS, Fild March 26, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 1Inventor Hans CPau/sen By his Attorney J 23,1959 H. c. PAULSEN MACHINESFOR FORMING SHOE COVERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed March L26. 1957 mam nwmEm uJ p m 0h tu n mI 0 6 mm HUM June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSEN 2,891,264

MACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS Filed March 26, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 4[n uenion Hans-C/Qmlsen By his Attorney June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSEN2,391,264

MACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS Filed March 2 1957 a Sheets-Sheet 5[nven 0P Hans C. Paulsen By his Attorney June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSENMACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 26, 1957fnuenfaw Hans C Pau/sen By has Attorney June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSENMACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 26, 1957lhverzfow Hans C(Fiz'ulsen By his Attorney June 23, 1959 H. c. PAULSEN2,891,264

MACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERS Filed March 26. 1957- 8 Sheets-Sheet B28 /nvehfor 22 Hqms af ulsen Y By his Attorney United States Patent2,891,264 Patented June 23, 1959 Fice =MACHINES FOR FORMING SHOE COVERSHans C. Paulsen, Lexington, Mass, assignor to BB.

Chemical Co., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMarch 26, 1957, Serial No. 648,541

1'2 Claims. (Cl. 1'2-1) This invention relates to machines for formingfrom flat blanks protective covers to be applied to the uppers of shoesduring the manufacture of the shoes. Such covers are employed to preventsoiling or staining of the shoe uppers in the course of the manufactureof the shoes.

One form of cover produced by the machine of the present invention, anda machine for applying the cover to a shoe, are illustrated in LettersPatent of the United States No. 2,712,659, granted July 12, 1955, on anapplication filed in my name.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine forforming protective covers for shoes from fiat blanks of thin plasticmaterial. To this end and in accordance with a feature of the invention,the machine includes means for turning the side portions of the blanksinto generally parallel relation and means for turning the heel portionsof the sides of the blanks inwardly into overlapping relation andbonding together the overlapped portions.

After the blanks have been formed into covers the covers are moved outof the forming station and are stacked in nested relation. In accordancewith another feature of the invention the stacking station receives theformed covers in inverted positions and includes means for holding theupper margins of the covers in outwardly turned positions in thestacking station and means operative during the feeding of a blank intothe stacking station for retracting the holding means and spreading themargins of the cover outwardly into contact with the cover in which itis nested.

The cover blanks include tab portions projecting from a margin thereofto facilitate separation of the nested cover blanks when they are to beused. Further to facilitate this separation and in accordance withanother feature of the invention the forming station of the machineincludes means for doubling the tab portions to form two-ply portionshaving twice the thickness of the covers and sealing the plies of thetab portions together.

The above and other features of the invention including various detailsof construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described byreference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation of one form of machine in which theinvention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the formin station of themachine;

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation, partly in section, of the formingstation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of the forming station;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of a portion of theforming station;

Fig. 7 is a view of some of the parts of Fig. 6 with the parts indifferent positions;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the back seam closing members,

showing their relative positions prior to closing of the back seam;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the stacking station of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line XX of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the inner form or transfer deviceillustrating the means for separating the sides of the shoe covertherefrom;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11, and

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs.11 and 12.

The illustrative machine comprises a forming station 10 (Fig. 1) and astacking station 12 having Work supporting tables 14 and 16 respectivelycarried by upstanding legs 18 of a supporting frame. The Work supportingtable 14 is generally horizontally disposed and the table 16 is inclineddownwardly and rearwardly therefrom, this latter table being adjustablysecured to one of the legs 13 by a screw and slot connection 20.

A forming block 22, see for example Fig. 12, is arranged for movementfrom a position above the table 14 of the forming station where itcooperates with mechanism to be described for turning up the sides ofthe shoe cover and for closing the back seam, to a position above thetable 16 whereby it carries the formed shoe cover from the formingstation to the stacking station. The forming block 22 has secured to itstop face by screws 24 a pair of spaced plates 25 one of which carries anupstanding bracket 26. The plates 25 form between them a T-shapedguideway 23 (Fig. 5) for a slide 30, the purpose of which will appearhereinafter.

The upper end of the bracket 26 is pinned to a shaft 31 which is in turnjournaled in a sleeve 32 extending transversely of the machine. Thesleeve 32 is carried at the upper end of a swinging arm 34 the lower endof which is pivoted at 36 (Fig. 1) to one of the frame members. Pivotedto the swinging arm 34 near its upper end is a forwardly extending arm38 provided with a handle 40 at the front of the machine with the partsin the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 so that upon rearward movement ofthe handle 40 and the arm 38 the swinging arm 34 moves clockwise aboutthe pivot 36 to carry the forming block 22 rearwardly from the formingstation to the stacking station.

Provision is made for imparting a swinging movement to the forming blockabout the axis of the shaft 31 (Fig. 5) as it is moved from the formingstation into the stacking station so that the completed covers will bedelivered at the proper angle into the stacking station. For controllingthe swinging movements of the forming block an arm 42 (Fig. 5) issecured to the outer end of the shaft 31 and carries a cam roll 44arranged for engagement with a cam track 46 (Figs. 1 and 9) secured to abracket 48 on the table 16 of the stacking station. As the swinging arm34 moves clockwise about its pivot 36 (Fig. 1) the cam roll 44 engagesthe upper surface of the cam track 46 thus moving the arm 42 upward andswinging the forming block relatively to the arm 34 in accordance withthe curvature of the cam track, against the action of a spring 50 actingbetween. an arm 52 depending from the cam roll supporting arm 42 andconnected between screws in the arm 52 and the swinging arm 34. With theforming block at the forming station, its position relatively to thework table 14 is determined by an adjustable stop screw 54- (Fig. 1)carried by the arm 52 and engaging a boss on the swinging arm 34. Thearm 34- extends below the pivot 36 and is connected by a forwardlyextending link 56 to a lever 58 pivoted at 60 to the frame of themachine and extending upwardly to a position alongside the forward edgeof the work table 14. For holding the block 221 in its forwardmostposition in the forming station during the forming operation, the upperend of the lever 53 is releasably held in the position of Fig. '1 by asuitable latch 62, thus maintaining the link 56, the lever 34 and thearm 38 in the positions shown 'in Fig. 1 until a rearward force ofsufficient magnitude is exerted onthe handle to overcome the holdingeffect of the latch.

The shoe'cover-blanlcs are presented to themachine in flattenedcondition beneath the forming block 22 and the sides .are then movedupwardly against opposite side faces of the forming blockafter which theback seam is closed and heat is applied thereto to effect a permanentclosure thereof. For thus turning the sides of the cover against theside faces of the forming block a pair of forming plates 64, 65 arehinged to the work table at .66 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) and provide thesurface :WlliCll receives a .shoe cover blank B as shown in'Fig. 2. Theforward end of the forming .block22 is in the form of a forwardlyextending tongue 67 (Fig. 12) the lower surface of which is slightlyabove ,thelowersurface of the forming block proper, thus providingaspacebetween the tongue and the forming plates .to receive thetoeportion of the shoe cover blank. The rearward ends of the formingplates 64, 65 are curved as clearly shown in Fig. 2 to correspond to thevertical curvature .of the heel portion .of a shoe, and the block 22(Fig. 12) 'is correspondingly curved.

Pivoted to the forming plates 64, 65 at68 (Fig. 8) are arms 71 72 whichcarry at their outer ends means for folding the heel end portions of theshoe cover blank in overlapping relation to form a back seam. Secured tothe forming plates 64, 65 are rods 74 (Fig. 5) which pass throughopenings in the arms '70, 72 and carry collars 76 near their outer ends.Tension springs '78 are connected between the collars 76 and the arms70, '72 to maintain the outer ends of the arms in spaced relation to theforming plates 64, 65 as shown in Fig. 8. Collars 80 carried by the rods74 (Fig. 5) limit the outward movement of the arms Ti 72 with respect tothe forming plates.

For moving the forming plates 64, 65 about their pivots 66 to turn thesides of the cover blank into engagement with the sides of the formingblock 22, mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is provided. This mechanismcomprises levers 82 pivoted on a shaft '84 and having se- .cured totheir outer ends arms 86 carrying rolls 68 en- .gageable with the lowersurfaces of the arms 70, 72 with the parts in the positions shown inFig. 5. Upon upward movement of the levers 32 about the shaft 84 theforming plates 64, 65 are moved upwardly, the force be ing exertedthrough the arms 70, 72 and the tension springs 73. Pivoted to thelevers 62 are downwardly extending arms 96, 92 carrying cam rollers 94-,96, the arms having slots 98 through which'passes a cam shaft liltl.Cams 102, 164 are carried by the cam shaft 1% and rotate in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, during the operation offormingthe blank into the shoe cover. Upon rotation of the cams 102,from the positions illustrated in Fig. 5, the arms $2 move upwardlyfirst to move the forming plates into substantially vertical positionsalongside the forming block following which the arm 70 is moved againstthe action of the tension spring 78 into engagement with its associatedforming plate. Following this the arm 72, associated with the otherforming plate moves into engagement with it following which the firstarm 70 moves away'from its forming plate.

.The arm '70 carries at its outer end a slotted plate 106 (Figs. 6 7 and8) provided with slots 108 which are located to receive fingers 110secured to the arm 72 when the two plates are closed against theassociated forming'plates. The plate 106 will first move from theposition shown in Fig. 8 to the right to turn over the heel portion ofthe cover blank against the rearward face .ing plates upwardly asaforedescribed. .of course that the shaft 122 may, if desired, bepowerof the forming block 22 following which the fingers carried by thearm '72 move to the left as viewed in Fig. 8 to turn in the other heelportion of the blank against the outer face of the plate 106 and holdthe portions in overlapping relation. Following this the plate 106 moveswith its arm 70 back to the position shown in Fig. 8 so that theoverlapped heel portions are in engagement and are exposed except forthe portions underlying the fingers 110 for theapplication of heatwhereby they are sealed to complete the formation of the heel portion ofthe cover.

The cam shaft 3,100 carries at its forward end a'bevel gear 112 (Fig. 2)which meshes with a bevel gear' 114 carried by a transversely extendingshaft .116 having a sprocket 118 connected by a sprocket chain 120 (Fig.l) with a sprocket .on a 'drive shaft 122. This drive shaft has securedto it a handle 124 whereby the shaft may be turned and the cams 102, 104operated to move the form- It will be obvious operated.

Carried by the shaft116 is a cam 126 arranged, after the heel portionshave been folded and are clamped by the fingers 11 with .the plate 1456in retracted position, .toclosea microswitch 128 carried bya framemember of at 138 .(Fig. 3) to an arm 140 secured to apinion 142 carriedby a-shaft 144. The pinion 142 meshes with a .pinion 146 .secured to ashaft 148 carrying .arms 156 (Fig. .6) the outer ends of which carry ,apin1-52 on-which is supported a heating block 154 .havin-ga cunved face,as shown .in Fig. 1,-complemental .to the rearward face of the formingblock 22 so that when the heating block is moved downwardly from theposition shown in :Fig. 1 into the .position shown in Fig. 3, heatisapplied to the overlapped heel end portions of the .cover to seal themtogether. When the solenoid 130 is energized-the pinion 142 is turned ina counterclockwise direction imparting clockwise movement to the pinion146 which acts through the arms 150 to carry the heating block intooperative position. Heat is supplied to the heating block 154 by acartridge-type heating element 156. A torsion spring 158 (Fig. 6) hasone end connected to a collar 160 on the shaft 148, the collar beingheld in any one of a.plurality of positions by a screw 162 threadedthrough a bracket 164 and having a reduced end arranged to be received.byone of several holes .166 in the collar. The spring 153 acts to movethe .pinion 146 in a counterclockwise .direction, as viewed in Fig. 3when the solenoid is deenergizedand the effectiveness of this spring isreadily varied by adjusting the position of the collar 160.

To facilitate separation of the formed blanks after they are nestedtogether in the stacking station the blanks are provided with tabs Tillustrated in Fig. .2. Inthe formation of the covers these tabs arefolded .over to provide portions of double thickness to increase theireffectiveness. As shown in Fig. 2 the forming plate 64 at the right sideof the machine does ,notextend as far forwardly as does the formingplate 65 at the other side of the machine. Underlying the forwardportion of the fiat blank when the blank is presented to the machine isa plate 168 pivoted at 170 in alinement with the pivot 66 of theadjacent forming plate 64. The outer corner of the plate 168 adjacentthe forming plate 64 is cut away and a ,pair of stiff Wires 172 carriedby the plate .168 extend into the recess formed by the cut away portion.The tab T overlies these wires with the plate v168 in horizontalposition, there being a supporting .block 174 for the wires 172. An arm176 secured to the forming plate 64 underlies the plate 163 so that whenthe forming plate 64 is moved upwardly the plate 168 will move assneeaits) therewith. However, the forming plate may move downwardly withoutcausing similar movement of the plate 168.

Upon upward movement of the plate 168, as illustrated in Fig. 4, theouter portion of the tab T is turned back upon the tab by engagment ofthe tab with a pressing block 178. With the forming plates in verticalpositions that portion of the tab T adjacent to the body of the blank isheld by the wires 172 in engagement with a heating block 180 carried byand depending from an insulating block 182 carried by an overhead arm183 (Fig. 3) which extends lengthwise of the forming station. A heatingelement 184 (Fig. 1) is secured to the forward face of the heating block189. The face of the heating block against which the tab is moved by theplate 168 is provided with recesses 186 to receive the wires 172.

The pressing block 178 is pivoted to an arm of a bell crank lever 188the other arm of which is pivoted to the heating block. The intermediateportion of the bell crank lever has pivoted to it a vertically extendingrod 190 which carries a pair of spaced collars 192 (Fig. 3) the opposedfaces of which are curved to receive between them one arm of a bellcrank lever 194. This lever is pivoted at 196 to an upwardly extendingportion 198 of the insulating block 182. A depending arm of the bellcrank lever 194 has near its lowest end an aperture through which passesa rod 200, the forward end of which is threaded to receive nuts 202which abut one end of a spring 204 surrounding the rod, the spring alsoengaging the forward face of the depending arm of the bell crank lever.The rearward end of the rod 206 is pivotally connected at 206 to one ofthe arms 150 carrying the heating block 154, the pivot 206 being sorelated to the pivot 148 for the arms 150 that when the heating block154 is moved into operative relation to the shoe cover the. rod 200moves rearwardly and through the spring 204 causes downward movement ofthe vertically extend ing rod 190 thus moving the bell crank lever 188(Fig. 4) in a counterclockwise direction causing the pressing block 178to press the overturned portion of the tab T back upon the tab wherebyit is sealed by the heat of the heating block 180. The pressing block178 has recesses 208 in its pressing face which cooperate with therecesses 186 in the heating block 180 to receive the wires 172 andprevent the application of pressure to the tab in the vicinity of thewires.

At the end of the forming operation after the back seam and the tab havebeen subjected to the application of heat for a short period of time,sutiicient to seal the layers of material together, the shaft 122 isturned to return the heating block 154 and the pressing block 178 totheir original positions out of engagement with the blank and theforming plates are returned to their orig inal positions. However, theplate 168 by which the tab T was folded remains in its upstandingposition because the wires 172 are located between the two plies of thetab. Since the plies of the tab are not heat-sealed in the location ofthe wires 172, the tab is readily removed therefrom upon rearwardmovement of the now completely formed cover when the forming block ismovedrearwardly. As previously explained this rearward movement iseifected by moving the handle 40 (Fig. 1) rearwardly and shortly afterthis movement has started the plate 168 is returned to its horizontalposition. For this purpose a vertically-extending rod 214B movesupwardly through the work support to engage an arm 211 (Figs. 2 and 3)extending inwardly from the pivot of the plate 163 to initiate return ofthe plate when the arm is moved upwardly after which the plate falls bygravity into its horizontal position. The rod 210 is slidable in a fixedguide 212 and secured to the rod by a collar 214 is an arm 216 having aforwardly extending portion carrying on its undersurface a cam 218. Theshaft carrying the lever 58 has secured to it an upstanding arm 220which, upon rearward movement of the forming block, moves clockwiseengaging the cam 6 218 and causing momentary upward movement of the rod210 thereby to cause return of the plate 168 by which the tab is foldedand formed.

The stacking station 12 (Fig. 10) comprises the table 16 having fixedthereon a wedge-shaped member 222 for supporting the heel end portionsof the formed covers which are moved into position by rearward movementof the forming block 22. The covers are moved rearwardly by the formingblock until the heel end portions are located by an abutment 224adjustably carried by a holder 226 secured to an upstanding arm 228 of aplate 230. A guide screw 232 passes through a slot in the plate 230 anda second screw 234 passing through the plate and threaded into anextension of the table 16 has confined between its head and the plate230 a spring 236 arranged frictionally to hold the plate 230 in positionon the table. At the beginning of the operation of the machine the plate230 is located in. its forward position so that the first cover blankformed and delivered to the stacking station will engage the abutment224. Subsequent covers are nested each within the preceding cover and toaccommodate them the abutment 224 will gradually be moved rearwardly bythe force exerted by the forming block and the covers on the abutment224. The extent of the rearward movement of the forming block isdetermined by engagement of the lever 58 with an adjustable stop screw237 (Fig. l).

Secured to the holder 226 are side walls 238 (Fig. 1) between which thecover blanks are stacked in nested relation, these walls havingforwardly and downwardly inclined top edge portions over which the upperedges of the covers are turned and held in outwardly turned positions byholddown members 240. These members comprise a pair of spaced armssecured. to a shaft 242 (Fig. 10) journaled in a bracket 244 fixed toand extending upwardly from the table 16. The forward ends of theholddown members 240 are turned downwardly at 246 to hold the out-turnededges of the covers against the upper edges of the side plates 238.Normally these holddown members are in the positions illustrated in Fig.1 but upon rearward movement of the forming block 22 to deliver a formedcover into the stacking station the holddown members are lifted into thepositions shown in Fig. 10 so as not to interfere with the delivery ofanother cover into the stacking station. For this purpose the shaft 242has an upstanding am 248 through which passes a forwardly extending rod250 guided for movement in a transversely extending frame member 252 andhaving its forward end portion arranged for engagement by thesleeve 32by which the forming block is carried. The rod 250 has a collar 254engageabie with the forward face of the arm 248 to cause the arm to moverearwardly upon rearward movement of the rod and a second collar 256limits forward movement of the rod 250 and hence downward movement ofthe holddown members 240.

Also associated with the table 16 is a gripper 258 arranged to hold thetoe portions of the covers down against the forward end of the table16.. This gripper is pivoted at 26% to a lever 262 an intermediateportion of which is pivoted to a forwardly extending bracket 264 carriedby the underside of the table 16. The lower end of the lever 262 isconnected to an arm 266 having a slot 268 (Fig. l) through which passesa shaft 270 journaled in brackets depending from the table 16. The shaft270 carries a cam C72 arranged for engagement with a canrroll 27 carriedby the arm 266 whereby upon rotation of the shaft 270, lengthwisemovement is imparted to the arm 266 to swing the supporting lever 262and to move the gripper 258 toward and from the table 16. A spring 276connected between the lever 262 and one of the brackets carrying-theshaft 270 maintains the cam roll 274 in contact with the periphery ofthe cam 272. A spring 278 connected between the grip per 258 and thelever 262 urges the gripper 258 down movement.

the axis of movement of the lever 262 but it is desirable that duringreturn movement into gripping relation with .the covers, it moves morenearly vertically onto the .toe ends of the covers, as otherwiseit-would tend to ,push the toe ends of the covers rearwardly on thetable. To effect .this movement of the gripper, a cam plate 284 ispivoted at 280 to a bracket 282 on the underside of the rearward portionof the table 14. The cam plate 284 has a laterally extending cam 286, asshown in Fig. ,9, which cooperates with a pin 288 extending through thegripper 258 and to one end of which the spring 278 isattached. A-pin andslot connection 290 (Fig. between the cam platen284 and the bracket 282limits movement of the cam plate about its pivot 288. Uponcounterclockwise movement of the lever 262 to move the gripper 258forwardly out of gripping relation with the covers, the pin .288 engagesthe undersurface of the cam 286 which will ,be lifted about the pivot288 during this movement .of the gripper. With the gripper in itsforwardmost position thepin 288 clears the forward end of the cam 286whereupon the cam plate is permitted to move downwardly about its pivot288 so that upon clockwise movement of the lever 262 to return thegripper to operative position the pin 288 will ride on the top surfaceof the cam 286 'whichis shapedto hold the gripper above the toe ends ofthe shoe covers during its return At the latter portion of this movementthe pin 288 falls off the cam 286 and the spring 278 snaps the gripper258 downwardly against the toe ends .of the covers.

The shaft 270 by which motion is imparted to the gripper 258 is operatedfrom the shaft 122 by which the aforedescribed mechanisms for formingthe covers are operated. The shaft 122 carries near its outer end asprocket 291 (Fig. 5) over which passes a chain 292 which also passesover a sprocket 293 carried by a countershaft 294 journaled in the frameof the machine. A second sprocket 295 carried by the countershaft 294 isconnected to a sprocket on the shaft 270 (Fig. 1.) by a sprocket chain296. Thus it will be seen that the operation of the gripper 258 is intimed relation to the mechanisms for forming and sealing coverblanks inthe forming station.

Immediately following upward movement of the holddown members 240 whenthe forming block is moved to carry a newly formed cover into thestacking station, the side portions of the cover carried by the formingblock .are spread outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 9. For this purpose apair of spreaders 298 are moved outwardly engaging the mid portions ofthe cover to spread them outwardly over the side wallsof the stackingstation and a second pair of spreaders 300 engageable with the toeportion of the cover are moved outwardly for the same purpose. Thespreaders 298 include forwardly and downwardly inclined portions, asshown in Fig. 12, and are carried by arms 302 pivoted on the screws 24by which the plates 25 are secured to the top of the forming block nearits heel end. The slide carries a pair of pins 310 (Fig. 9) which arereceived by recesses in the arms 302. The slide 30 is normally urgedheelwardly of the forming block to a position in which the spreaders 298are coextensive with the sides of the forming block. For this purpose alever 311 pivoted at 312 to one of the plates 25 has a notched endportion in which is received a pin 314 carried by the slide 30. A spring316 con- .nected between the other end of the lever 311 and a screwthreaded into the side of the plate 25 normally urges the lever 31 1 ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, thus moving thespreader arms 302inwardlyinto inactive positions.

The forward end of the slide 30 has secured to it a downwardly extending(arm 318 (Fig. 1 2) having a ,forwardly extending portion pivoted to anarm 320 secured to a rearward extension of one .of the spreaders 300.These spreaders are pivoted at 322 to the forwardly extending'tongueportion'67 of the forming block and ,are provided with intermeshing gearsegments 324 whereby motion imparted to one will causemovement of theother arm equally but in the opposite direction. Thus, it will be seenthat movement-of the slide 30 causes simultaneous movement of the twosets of spreaders 298, 300 inwardly or outwardly of the forming block,depending upon the direction of movement of the slide.

Mounted above the stacking station is an electromagnet 322 (Fig. 1) thearmature of which is connected .to the upper end'of ,a lever 324 (Fig.10) pivoted to arealwardly extending arm 326 connected to the frame ofthe machine. The lower end of the lever 324 is pivoted to aforwardlyextending arm 328 the forward end of which passes through, andis guided for movement by, aplate 329. With the forming block .22 in itsrearmost-position in the stacking station, as shown by Fig. 10, therearward end of the slide 30, which has an upturned portion, is arrangedto be engaged by the forward end of the arm 328 upon clockwise movementof the lever 324 by energization of the electromagnet. Carried by theframe member 252 is a microswitch 330 having a forwardly extendingswitch button arranged to be operated 'by a screw 332 carried by an arm334 secured to the bracket 26. The screw 332 is preferably adjusted sothat the circuit through the microswitch is closed to energize theelectromagnet 322 immediately after the hold-down members 240 have beenraised, as heretofore explained. Immediately upon energization of theelectromagnet the arm 328, connected to the lower end of the lever 324,

.is moved forwardly moving the slide 30 forwardly against the action ofthe spring 316 (Fig. 9) causing outward movement of the spreaders 298,300 into the positions shown in Fig. 9 and spreading the cover away fromthe forming block.

The table 16 carries a forwardly extending bracket 336 (Fig. 9) whichhas a portion arranged to overlie the tab portions T of the cover as thetoe portions are spread outwardly by the spreaders 300. It will also beshown in Fig. 2, is placed on the table 14 below the forming block withthe throat portion abutting a shoulder 339 (Fig. 10) which rests on thework table when :the forming block is in'the forming station, the tongueportion 67 being spaced sufliciently above the table to permit the toeend of the blank to be located therebeneath. The shaft 122 is turned ina clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereupon the forming plates64, .65 are moved from their horizontal positions, as shown in Fig. 6,upwardly to turn the sides of the blank and hold them against the sidesof the forming block. As movement of the shaft 122 continues the arm 70(Fig. 8), carrying the slotted plate 106, moves inwardly until it liesagainst the forming plate 64 thus turning the heel portion atone side ofthe cover blank inwardly against the heel-end of the forming block.Following this the plate 72 ,moves against its forming plate 65 and thefingers carry the the plate 168 (Figs. 2 and 3) is moved upwardlywhereupon the wires 172 move the tab portion T past the pressing block178 whereby the tab is partially folded over and the unfolded portion ismoved into engagement with the heating block 180. Immediately followingthis the cam 126 (Fig. 2) on the shaft 116 operates the microswitch 128to energize the solenoid 130. Energization of this solenoid causesdownward movement of the heating block 154 to seal the overlappedportions of the heel end of the cover together and also causes downwardmovement of the pressing block 178 to complete the folding of the tabportion and to hold it in firm contact with the heating block 180 sothat the two plies of the tab are heat sealed together. Motion of thedrive shaft 122 may be arrested for a short interval, if necessary, tocomplete the sealing operation by the heaters and further movement ofthe shaft will return the parts after first deenergizing the solenoid130, to their original positions. It will be understood at this timethat the plate 168 (Fig. 3) will remain in its vertical position withthe wires 172 held between the plies of the tab but not sealed thereinbecause of the recesses in the presser block 178 and in the heatingblock 180. It will also be understood that if desired a timer may beemployed to maintain the solenoid 130 energized for a suflicient lengthof time and that the cams 102, 104 may be so designed that interruptionof rotation of the drive shaft 122 is not necessary, the cams providinga dwell for the duration of the heat sealing portion of the cycle.

After the cycle of operations of the forming station has been completedthe forming block is moved by the handle 40 rearwardly to carry theformed cover into the stacking station. The holddown members 240 areraised just prior to the completion of the rearward movement of theforming block and the gripper 258 is retracted after which the solenoid322 is energized to separate the spreaders 298, 300 to spread the newlyformed cover outwardly of the forming block and over the sides 238 ofthe receptacle forming the stacking station. The forming block is nowreturned to the forming station and at the beginning of its returnmovement the solenoid 322 is deenergized whereby the spreaders arewithdrawn into the forming block, the holddowns 240 are again moveddownwardly to hold the outwardly turned sides of the newly formed coverin outwardly extending positions and the gripper 258 returns to grippingposition in contact with the toe portion of the newly formed cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from fiatblanks, a work support, a forming block on the support, said formingblock having a tongue portion in slightly spaced relation above saidsupport whereby a cover blank may be placed on the support with its toeportion underlying the tongue portion of the forming block and the sidesand heel portions extending along opposite sides of the forming block,means for simultaneously turning the side portions of the blank upwardlyinto contacFivith opposite sides of the forming block with the heelportions projecting beyond the heel end of the block, means operableautomatically after the side portions have been thus turned for turningthe heel portions of the heel blank inwardly into overlapping relation,and means for bonding together the overlapped heel portions of theblank.

2. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flatblanks, a work support, a forming block on the support, said formingblock having a tongue portion in slightly spaced relation above saidsupport whereby a cover blank may be placed on the support with its toeportion underlying the tongue portion of the forming block and the sidesand heel portions extending along opposite sides of the forming block,means for simultaneously turning the side portions of the blank upwardlyinto contact with opposite sides of the forming block with the heelportions projecting beyond the heel end of the block, means operableautomatically after the side portions have been thus turned for turningthe heel portions of the heel blank inwardly into overlapping relation,means for bonding together the overlapped heel portions of the blank,and means for moving the forming block lengthwise of itself with theformed shoe cover to a position remote from said support.

3. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flatblanks, a work support, a forming block on the support, said formingblock having a tongue portion in slightly spaced relation above saidsupport whereby a cover blank may be placed on the support with its toeportion underlying the tongueportion of the forming block and the sidesand heel portions extending along opposite sides of the forming block,means for simultaneously turning the side portions of the blank upwardlyinto contact with opposite sides of the forming block with the heelportions projecting beyond the heel end of the block, means operableautomatically after the side portions have been thus turned for turningthe heel portions of the heel blank inwardly into overlapping relation,means for bonding together the overlapped heel portions of the blank,and means for depositing the formed covers in stacked relation in astation remote from the forming block.

4. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flatblanks, means for turning the side portions of the blanks into generallyparallel relation, and means for turning the heel portions of the sidesof the blanks inwardly into overlapping relation and bonding togetherthe overlapped portions, said last-named means comprising a platemovable to turn the heel end portion of one of the sides inwardly, saidplate having slots extending in wardly from the leading edge thereof, amember having fingers receivable in said slots and arranged to turn inthe heel end portion of the other side into overlapping relation withsaid first turned-in portion and with the plate, means for withdrawingthe plate from between the turned-in portions, and means for applyingheat to the turned-in portions.

5. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flatblanks, a vertically disposed forming block having parallel side Wallsagainst which the sides of a blank from the throat portion rearwardlymay be turned to enable joining the heel end portions of the blank, aplate at each side of the forming block movable from a horizontal blanksupporting position to a vertical position, means for thus moving theplates, means associated with the plates for turning the heel end portions of the blank into overlapping relation against the end of theforming block, means for applying heat and pressure to the overlappedend portions of the blank, and means for simultaneously folding anextension of the blank to form a tab of double thickness.

6. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flatblanks, a vertically disposed forming block having parallel side wallsagainst which the sides of a blank from the throat portion rearwardlymay be turned to enable joining the heel end portions of the blank, aplate at each side of the forming block movable from a horizontal blanksupporting position to a vertical position, means for thus moving theplates, means associated with the plates for turning the heel endportions of the blank into overlapping relation against the end of theforming block, means for applying heat and pressure to the overlappedend portions of the blank, means for simultaneously folding an extensionof the blank to form a tab of double thickness, and means for applyingheat and pressure to the overlapped end portions of the 'blank and tothe double thickness tab.

7. In a machine for forming protective covers for shoes from flat blanksof thin plastic material, mechanism for turning the sides of a blankupwardly and for closing 11 the .heel'end of the blank, means fortransferring the cover into nested relation with previously formedcovers at a stacking station, and means associated with said stackingstationtfor holding the cover in inverted posi- .to -.a stackingstation, and means associated with said stacking station for-holding the:cover in inverted position with !the upper marginal vportions and .thetabs turned outwardly to facilitate nesting and subsequent separation,ofsuccessively formed covers.

,9. -In a shoe cover forming machine, a stacking sta .tion tforreceiving formed covers ,in inverted positions, means forvfeeding coversoneat a time into the stacking station, means for holding the uppermargins of thelcovers in outwardly ,turned positions in the stackingstation, and

means operative during the feeding of a blank into the stacking stationfor retracting the :holding means and spreading the margins of the coveroutwardly into contact with the cover in which it is nested.

10. in (a machine ,for forming protective covers vfor shoes from flatblanks, :a vertically disposed forming block-means for supportinga coverblank with the side portions extending alongand the heel portionsextending slightly beyond said forming block comprising a pair of"plates pivoted about parallel vaxes extending along the.lowerportionofthe forming block, arms pivoted to said .plates aboutlaxes normal to the first-mentioned waxes, spring means normally urgingthe free ends of said arms away from said plates, means acting throughsaid arms to move the platesinto vertical positions alongside theforming blocktand:meanscarried bysaid arms for turning the heel portionsof the'blank around the end of the forming block in overlappingrelation.

11. In a .machine for vforming protective covers for shoes, ,from flatblanks, .a vertically disposed forming block, means for supporting acover blank with the side ,portions extending along vand the heelportions extending slightly beyond said forming block ,comprisinga pairof ,plates pivoted about parallel axes extending along the lowerportionof the forming block, arms pivoted to said plates about axesnormal to the first-mentioned axes,

spring means normally urging the free ends of said arms away from saidplates, means acting through said arms to move the plates :into verticalpositions alongside the forming block, and means carried by said armsfor turning the .heel portions of the :blankaround the endof theformingblock in overlapping relation, said last-named means comprising aslotted .plate carried by the freeend of one of said varms ,and aplurality of fingers carried by the free endof ,the other arm arrangedto be received by the slots in the slotted plate upon movement of thearms into engagement with the firstsnamed plates when the plates-areintheir verticalpositions.

.12. In va machine for ,forming protective .covers for shoes from flatblanks, :a vertically disposed forming block,rm.eans for Supportingvacover blank with the side portions .extending along and the heel:porti'ons extending slightly beyond said forming block comprising apair of plates pivoted about parallel axes extending along the lower,portion of the forming .block, arms pivoted to said plates about axesnormal to the first-mentioned axes, spring means normally urging thefree ends of said;arms away from said .plates, means acting through saidarms to move the plates into vertical positions alongside the formingblock, and means carried by said arms for turning the ,heel portions ofthe blank around the end of the forming block inoverlappingrelation,:saidlast-named means comprising a slotted platecarried by-the free end of -.One of said arms and a plurality of fingerscarried by the free end-ofsthe other arm arranged to be received by theslots in the slotted plate upon movement of the arms into engagementwith the first-named plates when the plates are in their verticalpositions, said 'mov ing means being arranged first to move the armcarrying the slotted plate into engagement with its associated plate andthen to move the other arm to carrytthe fingers into register with theslots to retract the first-mentioned arm whereby the overlapped portionsof the heel end of the blank are held wholly by the fingers, .and meansfor applyingheat and pressure to theloverlapped portions of the blank.

References Citedin the file-of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,881,670 Kenney Oct. 11, 1932 2,591,383 Spalding Apr. 1, 1952 2,746,067Paulsen May'22, 1956

